Western Cape Government Health's IT System Takes Top Prize at European Symposium

The Western Cape Government Health's information system, which is being implemented at public primary healthcare facilities throughout the province, received international recognition at an IT symposium in Europe.

The department won the International IT Award 2012 in Brussels as the best-run project. The prize money is 2 500 euros and will be used for the information systems project.

Since 2006, the system has been implemented at 103 facilities and has created electronic records for 3.75 million patients. The system processes 130 000 patient visits a month and tracks 5.6 million folders. The implementation of this system has transformed the way work is done in primary healthcare facilities in the province: empowering users, assisting managers and giving dignity to patients.

The system will be featured in a number of Europe's leading healthcare management publications.

Western Cape Minister of Health, Theuns Botha, said: "The award is a well-deserved recognition for the Department of Health. It demonstrates that our technologies are on par with similar innovations around the world. The system will connect patient files so that healthcare workers can access a patient's medical history when he/she presents at a health facility. It is part of the Healthcare 2020 objective to put the needs of the patient first. The award shows that government is able to deliver improved services, but we need our patients to assist by providing us with changes in personal details such as address changes. In this way, we are better together."